Automatic feed control for lubricators



Jan. 10, 1928.

1,656,108 F. B. FARNSWORTH AUTOMATIC FEED CONTROL FOR LUBRICATORS Filed Aug. 28, 1925 2 Sheets`$heet l lllllllllll v Jan. 10, 1928. 1,656,108

F'. E. FARNSWTH AUTOMATIC FEED CONTROL FOR LUBRICAT'ORS Filed Aug. 28, 1925 lli lill

Jan. l0, 1928,

AUTOMA'TG FEED CNTRL FDR L'UBRXCATORS.

Application filed Aiigust 28, 1925. Serial No. 531389.

'the object oi this invention is to provide au automatic ieed control ttor lnbricators, ot auch a nature that lubricant will be snpijilied tl'rom the lulnficator to the parts et the machine or apparatus to be lubricated While the machine or agn'iaratus is running, but will cut ci? the lubricant from euch machine or apparatue when the saine is idle.

The invention is particularlj,7 applicable l'or automatically supplying lubricant to the moving 'parte olU a locomotive while the locon'iotive is in motion, whether the locomotive running); under power. or dritt-ing, and tor antolmiticall i7 cutting; oitA such supply of lubricant when the locomotive is standing' or idley thus i'iialqinnf it unnecessary ttor the enineer to n'lanuallyY control the supply of lubricant. and resulting in a material saving' et labricant over the amount ordinaril),7 used where the supply thereof to the parte to be lubricated is manually (':ontrollcdi owing to the fact that the lubricant ,is automatically led 'from the luhricator onli7 at such times as neceesarv.

The invention consists et an automatic :toed control 'tor lubrieators, including the comhi ation with a lubricator having a valve igor controllinlo;l the flow ot' lubricant there rota et a pressarfa-operated device re- .snow ve to a change of pressure incident to the operation ot the machine to be lubricated.j and acting in response to Such change in "pressure upon means associated With the control valve olt the lnbricator, to open and cloae said valve when themachine is runaine' and when it is idle respectively aa l will proceed now to ,Xplain and finally claim.

ln the aecolnpanyingl drawings illus tratingi' the invention, in the Several figures et which like parte are Similarly designated, l*1 isiure l is a tragmentary section of a portion oilthe oil bowl and the feed tip ot' a hydrostatic lubricator olf known. type, with the devices ot my invention applied thereto. will; is a sectional elevation illustrating :i modiiied torni oi the nreesureresnonsive devil-e. Fig. il ie a Sectional elevation of another modified .term oil` preesure-responn site device.

leierringg to lling. l, l the oil bowl oil' the lulnficalor7 to which leads a connection Vfrom a source ot' pressure such as a locomotive hoiler (these latter parts being@I ornitled) and this bowl con'nnunicates through a, ris-,er 2 with a feed chamber 3 from which the lubricant escapea through the leed tip #l into a iriasisane E3 controlled by a valve (i liest which the lubricant ieeda into pipes Vt not shown) which lead to the parts to he lulrieatedn in the ordinary manner. The valve (l ie merely tor the purpose ot regulating the rate oi1 ilow ot the oil into the leed pipes, and is eet at a predetermined at 'which it ie Iallowed to remain drain plug; 7 is provided lor drain- 'he eight Feed cflmmber il when desired. lll ol*l the parte above descrihed are oi. ordinary approved construction and lforin no part of this invention, except in their combination and cooperation with the parte hereinafter described,

Instead ol the ordinari7 manually einen ated valve tor controlling' connnunication between the oil bowl l and the leed tip 4t, l". provide au automatically. mechanicalljjiT operated valve having' a m 1t).l the lower portion olE which is eonnectedhy means oli a iiitingr il with a pressure responsive mea-ne or diaphragm 'l2 n'ioiu'lted in a chamber 'itl vFormed by a canine; l/l. This. casingu has a cap 'l5 'which is; Secured as at lo to the leed ariu l? ot the oil howl. The diaphragm l@ ie fixed between the eaeingi lli and ite can hy meane olf a iveh i8 clamped between these parte` and this ivel'i is provided with an opening' 'i9 through which access trom the oil bowl to the interior of the diaphragm is had bv way of passages formed in the neck of the can l5.

The valve l) ie normally held closed hy e spring' 2l, and a threaded etem 22 connected to the fitting' 'il by means oli a sleeve 23 in provided for manuali;T oneningr and closing the valve l) when necessary or desirable, the stem 22 having; Squared end 2li to which an ordinal'. hey may be applied `tor the nur pose ot tui Connected to the clisnnber lil through a nort and pine f2.6 is: the 1)resserreresponsive clevice hereinabove referred to. rlhie pressureresponsive device. in the torni ehown in Fig;

l. comprises a casing 2l lia-vine,r a chamber 2S Gli lill

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a chamber 31 in which is mounted a pressure responsive means or diaphragm 32. The chamber 28 is in communication with the same source of fluid under pressure as the oil bowl 1, such as the locomotive boiler, through a pipe 33. The chamber 31 is connected to a separate source of pressure, such asl the locomotive engine cylinder, through al pipe 34 connected with a nipple 35 in which is arranged a choke plug 36.

Communication between the chamber 28 and the pipe 26, and hence between the locomotive boiler and the chamber 13, is established through a passage 37 controlled by a valve 38. Upon the stem 39 of this valve is mounted a valve disk 40 which controls i communication between the chamber 13 and the atmosphere through pipe 26 and an opening 41.

Supported by a fitting 42 carried by the diaphragm 32 and forming a closure for one 'end thereof, is a rod 43 in axial alignment with the stem 39 of the valve 38. This rod 43 is adapted, upon compression of the diaphragm, as will be liereina'l'ter described, to seat the valve 38 and unseat the valve disk 40.

A spring 44 is arranged to keep the diaphragm normally in expanded position, as shown. Y Y A manually operable screwthreaded rod 45 is provided for manually seating valve 38 and unseating valve disk 40 when desired.

In order that the pipe 26 and chamber 13 and the various compartments and cavities in the apparatus connected therewith may be drained,`or may be cleaned by blowing steam or air through same, I provide a drain plug 46.

The operation of this form of the invention is as follows z-Assuming that the oil bowl 1 and the pipe 33 are connected with a locomotive boiler, whereby the same pres- Sure is established in the chamber 28, oil bowl 1, feed member 17 and the interior of Y thediaphragm 12, and that the locomotive is standing, all of the parts of the device will be in the positions shown in Fig. 1, and boiler pressure` will be established within the diaphragm 12, as pointed out, and within the vchamber 13 around the outside of the diaphragm 12 through passage 25, pipe 26, passage 37 and chamber 28 past valve 38. The pressures being thus balanced upon both .sides of the diaphragm 12, the spring 21 VVwill enter the chamber 31 through pipe 34 and choke plug 36. Also, the motion of the `locomotive while running will unseat the ball valve 29 and will permit steam under boiler pressure to enter the chamber 31 directly from the pipe 33 through the open` ing 30. The combined pressures from the locomotive boiler and from the engine cylinders thus established in the chamber 31 will compr-ess the diaphragm 32, thereby forcing the red 43 to the left and seating the rvalve 38 'and unseating the valve disk 4t). Alhis seating oi' valve 38 and unseatmg of valve dish 40 cuts off boiler pressure from t-he chamber 13, and conse piently from the outside of diaphragm 12, and allows the pressure formerly established in chamber 113 to exhaust through pipe 2G and opening 41 to the atmosphere. As there is now only atmospheric pressure in the chamber 13 surrounding the outside of the diaphragm 12, no resistance is offered to the expansion of the diaphragm 12 downwardly under the influence of boiler pressure exerted upon the inside thereof, except the resistance oil'ered by the spring 21. The resistance of this spring 21 to the downward movement of the litt-ing 11 under the influence of the expanding diaphragm is not, however, sutiicient to prevent such movement, and, consequently, the valve 9 will be unseated, and oil will feed from the bowl 1 through the riser 2 and chamber 3 and out of the feed tip 4, and thence through the passage 5, past valve (5, to the pipes which lead to the parts to he lubricated.

Supposing now that the locomotive is drifting, that is running with the throttle closed, the same positions of the valves 9 and 38 and valve disk 4() will be maintained as when the throttle is open, for the reason that the ball valve 29 being unseated as before by the vibration of the locomotive, pressure will build up in the chamber 31 through the opening 30, faster than it can exhaust therefrom through the opening in the choke plug 3G, which latter opening is of smaller diameter than the opening 30.

Then the locomotive comes to a stop, the ball valve 29 will again come to rest and close the opening 3l, pressure in chamber 3 will be exhausted through pipe 3ft, and dia phragm 32 will expand, moving rod i3 to the right and permitting valve 38 to open under boiler pressure acting thereagainst through passage 37, thus again seating valve dish 4t) and re-establishing the conditions iirst described.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 2, the ball valve 29 is dirmensed with, but all of the other parts of the pressure-respon:-ive device are the same as those described in connection with the description of Fig. 1, except that in place of the choke plug 3G used at the connecton of the pipe from the engine cylinder to the chamber 31, I substiute a valve 47 having an opening 48 through it. This valve i7 has a scatV i9 in a tilting .30 applied to the nipple 5:1 and threaded at llt) TEU

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Lessines 52 tor connection with it ot the pipe 3ft of Fig. l.

The operation ot this form ot the device is as t'ollowszwlllhen the locomotive is standing, the parts will he in the positions shown in Fig. 2 and the valve 9 of Fig. l will be closed, as shown.

`When the engine throttle oit the locomotive is open and the locomotive is running, the pressure .in the locomotive engine cylinder "will unseat the valve l? and establish pressure in the chamber 3]., and this pressure, acting in the same manner as described in connection with the description of the operation ot the torni ot' the invention shown in Fig. l, will unseat valve dish l() and seat valve b3, thus permitting valve t) to open, as previously described llllhen the locomotive is drifting, that is running with the engine throttle closed, the compression in the engine cylinder established by the reciprocatioii ot the piston therein, will intermittentljvy raise the valve el? trom its seat i9 and will maintain pressure in chamber $31, to keep nlre 88 seated and valve dish l0 unseated, the pressure impulses 'from the engine cylinder occurring in such rapid succession that the ljnessnre built up thereby1 in the chamber 3l will be constantly replenished :faster than it can escape therefrom through the opening 48 in the falve i7.

1When the locomotive comes to a stop` the pressure impulses from the engine cylinder will no longer be present against the valve el?, and the pressure in chamber 3l will be exhausted thercjlfroin through the opening Ll-.S oi valve el?. The diaphragm will theretore expand and permit the seating ot valve dish 4l() and the opening olf valve 38 under the influence ot boiler pressure in the passage 37.

ln the inodilied torni shown in Fig. 3, the connection to the engine cylinder is dispensed with. This torni ot' inessure-respom sive device comprises merely a member 53 provided with a bore 54, this bore communi eating th rough pipe 26 with the chamber 1? (ll l). and communicating through a pipe 55 with the locomotive boiler or other source ot lluid under pressure. A choke plug 56 is interposed in the connection 57 between thepipe 55 and the bere 5l. Also connected with the bore by means oit a pipe 58 is a casing 59 'nfoviding a chamber (SO in which is mounted a ball. valve (il normally seating over an opening G2 whichj when the ball valve is unseated altords connnunication between the bore 54, and consefpientl vv the chamber lil, and the atmosphere, through an ingenio;- (S3 in the easing The operation ot this torni oi the invention is as tolloivsz-llllhen the locomotive is standing, the parts are in the position shown, Vwith the ball Valve til seated over the opening 62. lith the parte in this position1 boiler pressure enters the bore 54. through pipe 55 and choke plug 5G, and being unable to escape through pipe 58 and openings 62 and 63 by reason ot the obstruction caused by the ball valve (il, it enters chai'nbei.' 13 (Fig. l) tl'irough pipe 26, and causes the valve i) to remain closed, as here`- inbeitore described.

When the locomotive is running, Whether the engine throttle is open or closed, the vibration caused therebjyT will unseat the ball. valve (il, and will allow the steam entering bore 54 through pipe 55 and choke plug 5o to escape through openings (i2 and 63 faster than it can enter through the choke plug 5G, and also permitting the pressure in cham ber 13 to exhaust through pipe 2G, bore 54.-, pipe 58 and openings (32 and G3 and allow ing valve 9 to open, in the manner herein before set forth.

When the locomotive comes to astop, the ball valve (il Will again seat over the opening ('32, and pressure will again build up in bore het, pipe .26 and Chamber i3 and valve S) will again be seated to stop the flow ol oil.

I have described the operation of the varions torins oit my invention in connection with their application to a locomotive, and it is `lor such service that the invention is primarily adapted, but, obviously, devices embodying the iorms oi. the invention illustrated in Figs. l and 3, wherein a ball valve is used, may be applied to and operate etliciently in connection with any piece of machinery or apparatus to be lubricated, which, during its operation, will subject the device ot the invention to sutlicient vibration to unseat the ball valve.

The :torni ot the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 is applicable not only to locomotives, but to other pressure operated machinery or apparatus where two sources ot pressure are available tor connection with the passage 3T and oil. bowl 2 and the chamber 3l.

(.)bviously, one pressure responsive device, Whether of the 'form shown in Fig. l or ot the 'form of the modifications of either Fig'. 2 or Fig. 3, may be made to control the 7alves 9 ot a number olf toed tips, bv providing a number ot branch pipes correspond ing to the pipe 26 connected with the pressure-responsive device, thereby providing `for the simultaneous operation et a plurality of 'feeds by means oit a single pressure responsive device.

It will thus be seen that I provide an aiiltoniatic 'leed control for lubricators which Will operate etliciently in connection with and which is designed ior application to any piece of machinery orapparatus Wherein a source of fluid under pressure is available7 tor supplying lubrisant to the parts ol such machinertr or apparatus to be lubricated while running, and which will autolill] n ao matically shut oli' such supply when the machine or apparatus is idle.

Various changes are contemplated as Within the spirit of the invention` and the scope of the followings-claims.

What I claim is f 1. In an automatic feed control for lubricators, the combination with a pressure-operated lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of -lnbricant therefrom, of a pressure-responsive device for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, pres-' sure responsive means associated with said valve, and pressure responsive means associatedvvith said pressure-responsive device and operable byV variations in, pressure in the .pressure-responsive device for effecting theopening and closing of said valve through the-medium ofthe pressure responsive means associated with said valve. c

2. In an automatic feed control for lubricaters, the combination With a pressure-operated lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, of a pressure-responsive device for controlling the opening'and closing of said valve, and a diaphragm vassociated With said valve and a diaphragm associated with said pressureresponsive device, said diaphragms being` responsive to variations in pressure in the pressure-responsivev device for effecting the opening and `closing of said valve.

3. In an automatic` feed control for lubricators, the combination with a pressure-operated lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, of a pressure-responsive device for controlling `the opening andk closing of said valve, a diaphragm associated With said valve and subject to the. pressure Within said lubricator upon one side andl to pressure within .said` pressure-responsive device upon its other side, and means in said pressure-responsive device responsive to variations inpressure therein for varying the pressure upon said diaphragm to effect the opening and closing of said valve.

4; In an automatic feed control for lubricators, the `combination with a pressureoperated lubricator 'having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, of a pressure-responsive Vdevice for controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said lubricator yand said pressure-responsive device communicatingrvvith a common source of fluid under pressure, connections between said pressure-responsive device and a separate source of fluid under pressure, pressure- .actuated means associated with said valve kand responsive to presure in said lubricator and to pressure in said pressure-responsive device to move said valve in opposite directions to close and open the valve. and means insaid pressiu'e-responsive device and responsive to changes in pressure therein; due

to the tivo sources of pressure connnunicating therewith for varying the pressure etllect upon said pressure actuated means.

5. In an automatic feed control for lubricators, the combination with a pressure-operated lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, oil' n pressure-responsive device ttor controlling the opening and closing of said valve, said lnbrlcator and said pressure-rcsponsive device e being in communication with :i common source of fluid under pressure. connections between said pressure-responsive device and an engine cylinder, means associated with Voperated lubricator having a valve tor controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, ot a pressure-responsive device for controlling the opening and closing movements ot said valve, said lubricator and said pressure-responsive device being in communication with a common source of fluid under pressure, and said pressure-responsive device being in communication with an engine cylinder, pressure-responsive means associated with said valve and adapted to hold said valve in closed position to arrest the tlow of lubricant by a balance of pressures acting upon said means, means ntlfording connnnnication between said pressnre-responsive means and said pressure-rcsponsive device, and means in said pressnre-responsivc device and :1ctuated by the combined pressures from sait/l source of fluid under pressure and from said engine cylinder for overbalancing the pressures upon said pressure-responsive ineans to induce opening of said valve.

7. In an auton'iatic feed control for lubricators, the combination with a pressureoperated lubrieator having a valve tor controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, ot a pressure-responsive device for controlling the opening and closing of said v:il\e. said lubricator and said pressure-responsive device communicating with a connnon source of fluid under pressure, connections between said pressure-responsive device and a separate source of fiuid under pressure, a diaphragm associated with said valve and subject upon one side through said lnbricator to the pressure from said common source ot fluid under pressure, a chamber surrounding said diaphragm, connections between said chamber and said pressure-responsive device, and subject to pressure from said common source of fluid under pressure through said pressure-responsive device for subjecting the Stl ltlu

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nasales other side of said diaphragm to the pressure from said common source of fluid under pressifue, resilient means acting upon said valve te close the same under the balance of pressure thus esaiblished, and means in said pressure-responsive device subject to the combined pressure from the common source of tluid under pressure and said separate source of fluid under pressure for exhausting said chamber and permitting said valve to open under the influence oil' pressure from the common source of pressure actinglupon one side of said diaphragm through said lubricatcr. i

lu an automatic feed control for lubricators, the combination `with a lubricator '.l'iaving a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, of a pressui 'e-responslve device for controlling the operation of said valve, means associated with said valve and responsive to pressure exerted in one direction for opening said valve, and connections between said pressure-responsive device and the pressure-responsive means of said valve for etliectingl cont-rol of the pressure acting on said pmesure-responsive means in accord with the operation of the pressure-responsive device.

il. lin an automatic feed control for lubricators, the combination with a lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom, of a pressure-responsive device for controlling the operation of said valve in. response to the operation of the n'iachine to be lubricated, prassure-responsive means associated with said valve, means in said pressure-responsive device and actuated by changes in pressure therein incident to the operation of the machine to be lubricated, and connections between said pressureresponsive means and said pressurea'espon sive device whereby said valve will be opened when the machine operating and will be closed when the machine is idle.

l0. lfn an automatic feed control for lubricaters, the combination with a lubricator having a valve for controlling the flow of lubricant therefrom to the machine to be lubricated, of a pressare-responsive device for controlling the operation of said valve .in response te the operation of said machine, a diaphragm associated with said valve and effective to open and close same under the intluence of varying pressures acting thereon, connections between said diaphragm and said pressin'e-V 'esponsive device, and means in said pressure-responsive device and effective un der the, influence of varying pressures inci dent to the operation of said machine to vary the pressures acting upon said diaphragm to open said valve when said machine is runw ning and to close it when said machine is idle.

"llm t lubricating system for a power unit comprising means for supplying lubricant under pressrue, a `conduit for conveying the lubricant troni the said means to the unit, a pressure actuated 'valve for controlling flow through said conduit, said valve being constantly subjected to the pressure of the lubricant from said supply means to open said valve, and means for positively moving said valve against the pressure of said lubricant, said last named means `being responsive to the conditions in the said power unit.

l2. A. lubricator comprising a pressure actuated control head, a lubrifant regulating head, a chamber in each of said heads, a movable abutment forniiing one side of the respcctive chambers, a passageway establishing communication between the chamber in the control head and the exterior face of the abutment of the regulating head, a normally closed valve carried by the abutment of the control chamber for controlling flow through said passageway, an inlet for delivering lubricant to the chamber of the regulating head, an outlet for discharging the lubricant therefrom, a valve carried by the abutment of the regulating head controlling the flow through the said outlet, and means for conducting a pressure actuated fluid to the conn trol head chamber.

13. it. lubricator comprising a control head provided with a pressure chamber, a movable abutment forming one wall of said chamber, a lubricant regulating head having a casing, a movable abutment in said casing dividing the same into a leakage chamber and a lubricant receiving chamber disposed at the opposite sides thereof, means adapted to establish connnunication between said pressure cham ber and leakage chamber, said leakage chain ber being provided with means permitting gradual escape of fluid therefrom, a valve carried by the pressure chamber abutment controlling flow of fluid through the first named means, an inlet for delivering lubricant to the receiving chamber, an outlet for discharging lubricant therefrom, and a valve carried by the abutment of the lubricant regulating head governing the escape of the lubricant from the lubricant receiving chamber.

lst. A lubricator comprising a control head consisting of a casing lia-ving an imperforate diaphragm forming the movable wall of a pressure chamber, means for conducting pressure Huid into the said chamber, a fluid conducting passageway leading from said chamH ber, a valve carried by the diaphragm controlling flow through said passageway and yieldingly urged towards closed condition, a lubricant regulating head consisting of a casing, an imperforate diaphragm in said casing having a venting chamber at one side and a lu.- bricant receiving chamber at the opposite side thereof, the said passageway from the pressure chamber discharging into the vent ing chamber, the venting chamber being pro vided with a. restricted port permitting esfill Sil

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cape of iuid therefrom, the lubricant receiving chamber being provided with an inlet and an outlet, a valve carried by the diaphragm of the regulating head controlling ow through the said outlet, and yielding means for urging said valve to its closed condition.

15. A lubricator comprising a control head consisting of a. casing having an imperforate diaphragm forming the movable Wall of a pressure chamber, means for conducting pressurev fluid into the said chamber, a fluid conducting passageway leading from said chamber, a valve carried by the diaphragm controlling flow through said passageway and yieldingly urged towards closed condition, a ubricant regulating head consisting of a casing, an imperforate diaphragm in said casing having a venting chamber at one side and a lubricant receiving chamber at the opposite side thereof, the said passageway from the pressure chamber discharging into the venting chamber, the venting chamber being provided With a restricted port permitting escape of fluid therefrom, the lubricant receiving chamber being provided with au inlet and an outlet, a valve carried by the diaphragm of the regulatingl head cont-rolling flow through said outlet, a compression spring within the venting chamber for urging the said valve to its closed condition, and an adjustable stop for limiting opening movement of said valve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of August A. D. 1925.

FORDYCE B. FARNSVVORTH. 

